Winding Down: A Full Day

Friday: I started the day with a walk about the neighborhood. It was very interesting to see the locals getting ready to start their day. The interior courtyard I could see from hotel room, had about 20 folks doing tai chi from about 6am to beyond 7:30. On the street, many food vendors and many locals buying breakfast tidbits. They thought we were a bit odd wanting to take a picture here and there, but most of them laughed at us and smiled. The morning burrito item looked pretty good - a big cast iron flat round griddle, about 20" in diameter, over a gas fire, spread with pancake batter, on top of that an egg is spread around, throw in some green onions, nuts, other things I can't identify, then when it's done, roll it up around a piece of deep fried baguette looking item. Smelled pretty good. Lots of folks on bikes, and others waiting for their bus. Some women were hanging out their laundry to dry up and down the street. Vendors (for the locals) on one corner, arrived on their pedi-pickups and spread their wares out with locals vying for position and buying.

The Shanghai Museum was full of artifacts dating back some 4,ooo years, and these that were that old were very well made which means there was a lot more history and civilization prior to that. I found the gift shop to be almost as interesting - bunches of book, got a couple that I'll read on the 12 hr plane ride.

The Bund, is Shanghai's version of Waterfront Park to the max. It's more like Chicago or NY's waterfront. Very vibrant, lots of people, great public space. View of river with lots of boat traffice constantly. Hugh skyscrapers across the river, and the various 1930's buildings from the French, German, American and other "concessions". We came back through there tonight with all of the buildings light up - wow!

The Free Market was part of our afternoon experience. This is a huge shopping area in old shanghai, 2-3 blocks, but sort of inside older building. More like an interior courtyard type of area, but also with buildings within that space. All sorts of little shop fronts. Nothing bigger than about 10' by 15'. One woman caught Dianne and I "there is a free art exhibit upstairs...." well, she was so nice, we went. I hope we didn't get scammed... She said the paintings were by Zhao Dong of Xi'an, supposedly some famous painter in the country. We each bought a painting for about $9 and took our sales girls picture. It didn't help that our guide, who is from Xi'an, had never heard of the artist. But, the experience was fun.

And, as for bargaining, the "2-second pause" that Mark demonstrated before we left - that works great! You make an offer, if they say no-no and counter, you work to your bottom line, and that's unacceptable, you say ok, turn and slowly walk out the store, hestitating ever so slightly. Usually they say during that moment of hestitation, "ok-ok" and you go back, and are in a good position to get the item for the price you wanted.

We also went into Yunan Garden, which is also within this area. It is a HUGE classical garden. Very beautiful plants, flowers, trees, pavilions, etc. Some of the trees are marked - 400 yr old, 300 yr old, 100 yr old, etc. And the koi - active and big.

Tonight was the chinese acrobatic show - contortionists (yikes!), one guy balanced 22 benches on his head for a total of 250lbs, flying motorcylcles (5 cylclists in a big wire cage driving way too fast around in circles, and upside down. And so much more. And outside on our way to the bus, one last vendor selling fans - 4 for a $1. Off to the airport tomorrow. Then to develop 21 rolls of film. Don't worry, you won't have to look at them all, just the ones I get developed. :-)